Episode 207 – New Markets for Artists / Using Social Media Platforms for Sharing Art

New Internet-based markets and social networking force us into a dialogue with them, no matter what our stance on this new plugged-in culture is. This chapter will provide an overview of the new social platforms that are changing the world and their importance and relevance to the arts. I will go over some of the basics from the introduction to Facebook in Twitter in chapter 2, but the coverage here is meant for users who are already familiar with these platforms and are ready to move on to more advanced techniques.

Lady Gaga and Obama

What do Lady Gaga and President Obama have in common? They both use social media in a masterful way. In 2011, Lady Gaga was the number-one celebrity, ousting Oprah Winfrey from the top spot, in much the same way that Obama defeated Hillary Clinton by outspending her in campaign advertising. When Barack Obama wasrunning for president he lacked support from the top democrats, whereas Hillary Clinton had those connections because of her time in the White House. That alone was daunting for an underdog like Obama, but he chose a highly effective campaign tactic focused on social media and getting small donations of $50 dollars or less in great quantities. Of course it worked, financially and practically, because he had much more to spend on his campaign as a result. Lady Gaga is in that position because of her talent but also because of her use of social networking. She has attracted millions of fans through her Facebook page and Twitter, and she posts regularly to feed the interest of her growing fan base.

Social media platforms, both established and emerging, are not going to disappear anytime soon. This is your primer on making them work for you, so that you can harness the power that Lady Gaga and President Obama are using to bolster their tremendous success without spending money. As an artist, you are a creator, an inventor, and an innovator. You have that in common with some of the greatest business minds in the world today.